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RUHLMAN/HENRY/BURCH RULE ELDORA
ROSSBURG, OH (April 19) – In a wild Saturday night of racing at Eldora Speedway, Brian Ruhlman (Sunoco American Late Model Series), Jon Henry (Moser United Midwestern Promoters Modifieds) and Bob Burch (Advance Auto Parts Stocks Cars) found their way to victory lane.
Despite rains in the surrounding areas, and dipping temperatures, the track management was able to pull the show off, with a full field of race cars responding to the call.
Only one caution flag slowed the pace of the 11 preliminary heat races, as the program was moving along at a record pace. From that point forward; however, the dreaded full moon in the sky seemed to affect the action.
As the American Late Model Series (ALMS) 25-lap main event took to the track, Aaron Scott was the first of the 22 starters to pace the field after a wild front stretch crash on the initial start. On the ensuing restart, Scott again took control with a lead that he was to hold for four circuits of the one-half mile clay oval, before giving way to former Dirt Late Model Dream winner Matt Miller.
Miller then held control for a pair of laps before another caution flag waved. The yellow bunting was displayed for a pair of wall contacts – Ky Harper in turn two and Wayne Chinn in turn three. Both cars suffered enough damage to eliminate them from further competition.
Miller again took control through lap 12, when Hillard Miller spun wildly off of turn four and came to an abrupt stop. Apparently Hillard had been struck by debris, which broke his face shield. He was taken to Mercer Health Center in Coldwater and then air lifted to Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne, IN. A condition report was not available at press time.
During the process of assisting Hillard Miller, Matt Miller suffered engine problems and retired to the pit area; giving the lead and eventual victory to Brian Ruhlman.
It was not a cake walk for Ruhlman, as behind him, Casey Noonan, the defending victor of the race, was nosing in with a strong challenge. Aaron Scott then regained his composure and came on strong to run side by side with Noonan for several laps, before edging into runner-up position three laps from the checkered flag.
The chase ended for him on the white flag as he drove above the cushion and dropp0ed to fourth at the finish; allowing Noonan to regain runner-up honors, with Tyler Boggs moving to third. Scott crossed the line fourth, but was disqualified at the scales by UMP officials, for failing to meet the minimum weight requirements. That moved Rusty Schlenk to fourth, with Steve Casebolt fifth. Rick DeLong had originally been ahead of Schlenk and Casebolt, but was penalized two positions at the finish for jumping on the previous restart.
Attrition played an equal role in the Moser UMP Modified finale, as several spins and a wild front stretch flip by Mike Roediger slowed the action. There were no injuries in the action.
Doug Adkins took the early lead in the 17-lap night capper, with a position he was to hold for three laps before giving way to young sensation Jon Henry, who was coming off a Friday night victory at Limaland Motorsports Park.
With Henry in the lead, his ability to open the distance was halted by a massive ten-car pile-up on lap six. Several cars were deleted in the melee.
With the action back underway, Henry again distanced himself between Adkins and the balance of the field, while Ruhlman was doing double duty and moving forward. He shot past Adkins on lap 10 and set his sights on Henry. Henry was setting a torrid pace and Ruhlman wasn’t able to move in.
Roediger’s misfortune on lap 15 gave him one last shot at Henry, but the Ada, OH youngster was not to be denied as he crossed the line ahead of Ruhlman, Adkins, Jerry Bowersock and Lenny Guyton.
The incredible night of attrition was not limited to those two mains, as the Advance Auto Parts Stock Cars suffered their share, as well. While Bob Burch was out front and flying, the action behind him was boggling.
Of the several incidents, a pair of flips by Jeff Babcock and Kyle Lennon were the most devastating. Again, there were no injuries.
Kevin Gossard and Earnie Woodard waged a spirited duel for Burch’s supremacy, but their battle between themselves slowed them enough to allow Burch to cruise to the win. Gossard wound up with runner-up honors ahead of Woodard, Mike Dirksen and Shawn Phillippi.
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ELDORA SPEEDWAY - APRIL 19, 2008
Sunoco American Late Model Series - 35 cars
Fast Time: Casey Noonan 15.873
Heat 1: Brian Ruhlman, Casey Noonan, Jerry Bowersock, Duane Chamberlain, Steve Casebolt, Kris Patterson, Chris Ross, Brad Harden, Dustin Moore
Heat 2: Aaron Scott, Ronnie Perrine, Jr., Tyler Boggs, Ben Adkins, Curtis Deisenroth, Brad Eitinear, Herb Reich, Joel Wildermuth, Troy Cattarene
Heat 3: Ky Harper, Rusty Schlenk, Rick DeLong, Hillard Miller, Randy Woodling, Chuck Hummer, Steve Kester, Pat Ehlert, Ryan VanderVeen
Heat 4: Matt Miller, Wayne Chinn, John Mason, Scott James, Rusty Seaver, Wayne Maffett, Jr., Shawn Phillippi, Bill Hahn
B-Main 1: Duane Chamberlain, Ben Adkins, Steve Casebolt, Kris Patterson, Chris Ross, Brad Eitinear, her Reich, Curtis Deisenroth, Troy Catterene, Joel Wildermuth, Brad Harden, Dustin Moore
B-Main 2: Scott James, Rusty Weaver, Randy Woodling, Wayne Maffet Jr., Chuck Hummer, Steve Kester, Shawn Phillippi, Pat Ehlert, Hillard Miller, Bill Hahn, Ryan Vanderveen
25 Lap A-Main:
1) Brian Ruhlman 2) Casey Noonan 3) Tyler Boggs 4) Rusty Schlenk 5) Steve Casebolt 6) Ben Adkins 7) Rick DeLong 8) Jerry Bowersock 9) Wayne Maffett Jr 10) John Mason 11) Chuck Hummer 12) Scott James 13) Kris Patterson 14) Matt Miller 15) Hillard Miller 16) Ronnie Perrine Jr 17) Wayne Chinn 18) Ky Harper 19) Duane Chamberlain 20) Randy Woodling 21) Rusty Seaver 22) Aaron Scott
Moser UMP Modifieds - 38 cars
Heat 1: John Brooks, Stan Smith, Scott Orr, Mike Roediger, Davey Gantt, Warren Shingleton, Nick Katterahenry, Josh Greber, Ryan Sutter, Steve Brown
Heat 2: Justin Matson, David Smith, Lenny Guyton, Gary Richard, Chad Rosenbeck, Randy Lines, Tom Treon, Josh Morton, Eddie Shaner, Jeff Harris
Heat 3: Todd Sherman, Doug Adkins, Todd Sanders, Bill Lewis, Josh Scott, Steve Shute, David Treon, Jr., Steve Billenstein, Chad Overson
Heat 4: Brian Ruhlman, Jon Henry, Jerry Bowersock, Tim Richardson, Mike Dirksen, Mike Chrisman, Jeff Babcock, Schuyler Nahre, Shane Unger
B-Main 1 Nick Katerahnery, Eddie Shaner, Randy Lines, Ryan Sutter, Josh Morton, Steve Brown, Chad Rosenbeck, Davey Gantt, Josh Greber, Warren Shingleton, Tom Treon, Jeff Harris
B-Main 2: Jeff Babcock, Mike Dirksen, Steve Shute, Mike Chrisman, Steve Billenstein, Schuyler Nahre, Chad Overson, Shane Unger, Josh Scott, David Treon, Jr.
17-lap A-Main:
1)Jon Henry 2)Brian Ruhlman 3)Doug Adkins 4)Jerry Bowersock 5)Lenny Guyton 6)Steve Shute 7)Mike Dirksen 8)Gary Richard 9)Tim Richardson 10)Todd Sherman 11)John Brooks 12)Nick Katterahnery 14)Mike Roediger 15)Randy Lines 16)Scott Orr 17)Stan Smith 18)David Smith 19)Todd Sanders 20)Eddie Shaner 21)Bill Lewis 22)Justin Matson
Advance Auto Parts Stock Cars - 24 cars
Heat 1: Mike Dirksen, Kevin Gossard, Gabe Wombolt, Michael Barr, Jon Runyon, Adam Schaeff, Jerry Butler, Chad Thornhill
Heat 2: Earnie Woodard, Jan Launder, Doug Thiemann, Shawn Phillippi, Jeremy Creech, Andy King, Rodney Lacey, Nate Hemmelgarn
Heat 3: Jeff Babcock, Bob Burch, Barney Craig, Chad Barr, Jason Kinney, Jamie Heiser, Glenn Knick, Kyle Lennon
B-Main: Adam Schaeff, Jamie Heiser, Glenn Knick, Rodney Lacey, Kyle Lennon, Nate Hemmelgarn, Andy King, Jerry Butler, Chad Thornhill
A-Main:
1)Bob Burch 2)Kevin Gossard 3)Earnie Woodard 4)Mike Dirksen 5)Shawn Phillippi 6)Barney Craig 7)Chad Barr 8)Jeremy Creech 9)Jason Kinney 10)Douog Thieman 11)Jon Runyon 12)Jamie Heiser 13)Glenn Knick 14)Andy King 15)Gabe Wombolt 16)Jan Launder 17)Jeff Babcock 18)Adam Schaeff 19)Kyle Lennon 20)Rodney Lacey 21)Michael Barr 22)Nate Hemmelgarn
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